Software & IT Services: Debt & covenant compliance

The agreements that govern our indebtedness contain various affirmative and negative covenants. The indenture governing the Senior Notes also contains various affirmative and negative covenants. Such covenants, subject to certain significant exceptions, restrict our ability and the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to, among other things, engage in mergers, consolidations and acquisitions, grant liens, enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions and incur debt at subsidiaries. In addition, the term loan also contains financial covenants that will require us to maintain certain financial ratios. Our ability to comply with these provisions may be affected by events beyond our control. Failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, could accelerate repayment obligations under all of our outstanding debt, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.

Legal and Regulatory Risks

Changes in tax laws and regulations or interpretations thereof, or any change in the application of existing laws and regulations may adversely affect our effective tax rates and financial results.

Our operations are subject to taxation in the U.S. and in multiple foreign jurisdictions. Tax laws in these jurisdictions are subject to change as new laws or regulations are passed or new interpretations are made available. Changes in tax law, regulations or interpretation could have a material adverse impact on our tax expense and our financial position and cash flows. For additional detail on developments in tax laws and regulations applicable to us, see Note 17. Income Taxes of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Annual Report under the heading "Legislative Developments."

We have a wide range of statutory tax rates in the multiple jurisdictions in which we operate. Changes in our geographical earnings mix, including those resulting from our intercompany transfer pricing or from changes in the rules governing transfer pricing, could materially impact our effective tax rate. In addition, we maintain significant deferred tax assets related to certain tax credits and capitalized research and development expenditures. Our ability to use these deferred tax assets is dependent upon having sufficient future taxable income in the relevant jurisdiction. Changes to tax laws and regulations, and changes in our forecasts of future income could result in an adjustment to the deferred tax asset and a related charge to earnings that could materially affect our financial results.